Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

Good evening! It has felt like a busy week in the PainPals household and an equally busy day, hence my later hour posting.  We have had a house guest – a friend of the young engineer needing somewhere to bunk down on his way to a bright new tech job in San Francisco – another young man for our old dog to bark furiously at.  So imagine our surprise when in walks said friend and our old boy Sam wandered over, had a sniff and an ear rub without so much as a murmur!  There are a couple of the lovely girl’s friends who are here so regularly that they are virtually family, and yet he still will not make friends with them!  I suppose this is the prerogative of an old man – he is 16, which is about 87 in human years.

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You!

 

Meanwhile the middle child has returned from university, complete with dirty washing and a box full of crockery that yours truly uncovered lurking in the hall – yuk!  He is of course penniless, but at least he knows that we are unable and unwilling to pick up the pieces, so he asked for a message to go out requesting babysitting, dog walking and odd jobs.  Home Saturday, first job gardening from a friend on Sunday.  Long may it continue!  When he gets home from watching the football tonight, he will be shown the dishwasher though.

Talking of football, of course World Cup fever has struck and this house is divided between those who watch, and those who do not.  The eldest’s better half has slotted nicely into the watch group, alongside hubby and the politics student – whilst the eldest and the lovely girl appreciate my bloggy pal Gill’s mindset : 25 Ways to Annoy a Football Fanatic during the World Cup!! Yours truly is not usually a footie fan, but even I will watch the World Cup – to a point – but I don’t pretend to know anything about anything, even some of the shirt colours just don’t seem right!

Football.jpg

Hubby, having enjoyed Father’s Day yesterday,  left for Paris at the crack of dawn with year 6 – that is 60 eleven year olds – for his fourth year running.  The Eiffel Tower, Parc Asterix and the Hard Rock Cafe all beckon, but I know that they will all be glued to the big screen at their chateau this evening watching the England football match.  So that leaves me with 3 carers – capable hands, hmmm not sure, thoughtful, sometimes – but so long as they don’t forget a very important birthday tomorrow and spoil me rotten they will be in the good books.

Thanks to the fantastic Bloggers Tribe thread on Twitter, I have found some great new blogs for you this week alongside some old favourites.  So whilst I sit back with a glass of wine and cheer on young Harry Kane and his crew,  I wish you a happy Monday evening with some fantastic bloggers!

Bloggers Tribe

 

https://veroniiiica.com/2018/06/14/the-real-villain-in-incredibles-2-strobe-lights/

https://www.vickyviews.co.uk/never-used-to-like-having-my-photo-taken/

http://octoberslallu.blogspot.com/2018/05/that-feeling.html

https://survivorbunny.com/the-power-of-naps/

http://jademarie.co.uk/5-ways-practice-self-care/

https://www.ajourneythroughthefog.co.uk/2018/04/what-its-like-to-live-with-the-pain-of-fibromyalgia/

https://chronicallystrong.com/what-to-do-when-toxic-people-steal-joy/

https://www.travelbreatherepeat.com/nana-with-lam/

https://crookedbearcreekorganicherbs.com/2018/06/18/powerful-herbal-pain-relief/

https://fashiontechnology.co.uk/2018/06/18/how-accessible-is-on-line-shopping-ux-interviews-fashion-technology/

Please comment, like and share some love if you enjoy these blogs!

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

Another beautiful day here in South London for me to whip up some Monday Magic for you! The boys returned from Sorrento and are in my good books as they came bearing gifts – yes, you guessed it, Limoncello!  A trip to Pompeii, a glimpse of Capri and some general R&R on the Amalfi coast have done the soon to be young engineer the world of good – he has returned happy and relaxed.  Or maybe that is down to finishing his course!!  His sister says that his good mood and his being nice is “freaking her out”.  We are sending him to collect his brother from university, so this might put a damper on his good mood!Monday Magic 11th June

The last few days have been particularly hectic as we helped to re home a little pug for a friend of the young engineer.  This little lady had been badly used and abused by breeders and had far too many litters of puppies in her first years of life.  On a visit home, said friend fell completely in love with this little dog who was being fostered by his parents.  He took her home but as work commitments increased, he realised that it would be tough leaving her alone and sent a plea to friends asking to re-home her.  Hubby’s parents have always had dogs – from dachshunds to Bassett hounds – and recently one of their bull terriers died, leaving both them and the remaining dog Penny devastated.  Lech and Penny – as painted by the lovely girl.

It was Lech who died – and this little girl is called Lexi…..

Anyway, hubby & the engineer set out on a road trip which ended with Lexi settling into her new home in Hereford with the in laws and Penny.  Lexi.JPGThe little minx is loving exploring the garden – I had no idea such a small dog could be so speedy! – and having her there has put a spring back into Penny’s stride.  We don’t know how bereavement affects dogs, but she was definitely missing her brother.  So far, so good….I understand Lexi is already ruling the roost and have no doubt she will be spoilt rotten in her new home.  IMG_4823

 

I had a few hours to kill over the weekend, being just us girls at home. so was able to do some serious blog reading.  The blogs i have picked for you this week range from artisan bread to a weight loss journey with Slimmers World to stay at home mums.  There is a lovely review for a fantastic book about a bear called Wojtek, but on a slightly more serious side I have included a health post about an important, yet slightly taboo subject – STDs – please read it before you dismiss it.  The final blog is brand new and written by a lovely young friend of mine who has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.  Last year her condition declined rapidly and when diagnosed with a brain tumour alongside her many other conditions, she had to stop blogging.  Now she is back and ready to write again, so some support for her would be fantastic!

War-Hero-Bear

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy!

 

https://motivatemenow.co.uk/2018/06/08/five-minutes-with-hayley-from-just-another-blog-from-a-woman-thebeasley-blogging/

https://gobuythebook.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/blog-tour-wojtek-war-hero-bear-by-jenny-robertson/

http://confluencenutrition.com/5-reasons-chronic-illness-symptoms-flare/

https://www.london-unattached.com/easy-artisan-bread/

https://www.diaryofafibrogirl.com/2018/06/my-weight-loss-journey-so-far.html?m=1

https://libertyonthelighterside.com/what-will-make-me-happy-today/

https://insideoutblog.co.uk/down-but-not-out/

https://www.morganprince.com/2018/06/stay-at-home-mums-dont-be-ashamed.html

http://bladder-help.com/have-you-been-tested-for-stds/

https://vvmusings.wordpress.com/blog-posts/

As ever please remember to share some love for these bloggers!

Have a great week,

Claire x

18d9a-post-comment-love-badge

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

I can’t quite believe that June is upon us.  We are nearly half way through the year and you know what that means?  Soon the shops will be stocking up for Christmas!!  The lovely girl (who wants me to change her name on here – all ideas gratefully received) is becoming very annoyed with her brothers – number 2 has just sent a message announcing he has only one exam left to go, whilst number 1 keeps sending her photos from Sorrento, Italy – whilst she is still revising.  Not many to go now though.

Pin it!

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 4 June

The student engineer finished his course after 4 years this week – so he too will need a new name – and to celebrate he and his better half jetted off at some unearthly hour to Italy.  There actually are some occasions when it is great being no longer able to drive, and a 4 am airport run is definitely one of them.  Today I received some photos and thought “ahhh, my boy is actually thinking ahead to my birthday in a couple of weeks”, only to be informed that Capri is well out of his price range!  The pool, sea view and cocktail shots all seem indicative that they are letting their hair down – so long as they don’t forget to pack the Limoncello in their homebound luggage for their mums, I don’t care!

Meanwhile I received a cake request from a very good friend for a BBQ that we went to on Saturday.  It started out as a birthday cake for his wife, then quickly incorporated another male friend’s birthday….OK so a birthday cake suitable for a lady & a man, with their names….but then the wedding anniversary of another couple cropped up as being Saturday too. Hmmm, thinking cap on at short notice….a gender neutral, celebration cake – what could be better than using my zebra colours?  Lovely evening had by all!  IMG_1700.JPGHubby’s biggest concern came the following morning when he found that the handle on his Chelsea football mug had cracked….he blames the government for turning down Abramovich’s visa!!

 

 

I couldn’t finish without a mention for the British TV show “Britain’s Got Talent” – not as a great fan, I don’t even watch the show – but to applaud the diversity of contestants that I have learnt have taken part this year.  Both the winner and the runner up have disabilities and this is written about beautifully in the first post here: Disability Horizons, alongside some clips of the contestants – well worth a watch!  There are a host of great posts here from endangered animal species to shoes to a lovely poem.

So turn your phone to silent, grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy!

http://disabilityhorizons.com/2018/06/disabled-comedian-lost-voice-guy-wins-britains-got-talent-2018/

https://beautifultraveller.com/endangered-species-day/

https://quintessentiallymeblog.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/fiv-debunked/

https://kateonthinice.com/looking-at-things-more-positively-with-the-great-what-if/

https://risingabovera.com/seven-go-to-shoes-those-living-with-rheumatoid-arthritis-must-know-about/

https://hannahthemaddog.com/if-i-didnt-have-lupus-i-probably-wouldnt-be-blogging/

https://3sistersabroad.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/world-wide-lam-awareness-month/

http://lifewithanillness.com/2018/05/29/my-2-year-anniversary-of-being-chronically-ill/

https://schoolrunshop.com/monday-motivation-know-mood-hoover/

https://natashatungare.wordpress.com/2018/06/04/none-knows-the-real-you/

Please comment, like and share these posts to your own social media!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

Here we are in the UK celebrating another bank holiday Monday, and in the south east the weather is glorious..AGAIN!  I can’t recall a time when both May bank holidays have been sunny – 2018 will be one to remember.

adult background beach blue
Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

This week in the PainPals house exams have taken centre stage with the student engineer taking his final “Finals” exam – hooray – and the lovely girl sitting the bulk of her GCSEs.  There is just a group presentation to be given on Wednesday and then he has finished…4 years really have flown by!  Fingers crossed now that he gets the results he wants (and deserves).  The lovely girl is still revising, but feeling a lot less stressed and is creating a pile of books and notes ready for her bonfire at the end of exams!  Prime place is given to Mansfield Park which she hates with a vengeance.  Have I ever mentioned that Jane Austen is one of my favourites?  She keeps speaking to us in German though…this will continue as she plans to take German A level, but we haven’t got a clue what she is saying.  I am enjoying our latest German TV show though that we found on Amazon “You are Wanted” – she listens to the German whilst I read the subtitles.

Mum and the student engineer’s boyfriend (must find him a name, that is too long!!) celebrated their birthdays this week, on the same day, so we all enjoyed a night out at the local tapas restaurant.  I would love to share a picture with you, but the couple that I managed to take are truly awful and as my mother reads this, I really cannot publish them as she would never speak to me again!  The student engineer has planned a night out tonight (most unlike him) – and I can’t say any more in case his other half reads this before they get there. Stop typing, Claire..it is a surprise!!!!

Flamenco

So what have I found for you in the blogging world this week?  It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that four letters have been huge this week – GDPR – and I have included one post that is really useful.  But there is also a little something to tickle your tastebuds for wine day, a lovely piece from Happiness and Food titled “Asphalt and a Leaf” and flamenco..yes, flamenco dancing complete with a video!  I love the last post that talks about the giving and receiving of traditional letters and cards, delivered by the postman.  I take part in a designer’s card swap within the We All Send Cards site (where my girl has designs for sale) – it is so lovely to open a card with a message just for me!

So sit down, maybe with a glass of something cold and refreshing on this lovely day, and enjoy some great blogger’s posts.

https://www.unfoldandbegin.com/how-a-beautiful-traveler-found-herself-at-school/

https://thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany.wordpress.com/2018/05/21/hallo-burbach/

https://johnrieber.com/2018/05/25/its-national-wine-day-2018-toast-to-natures-magical-elixir/

https://www.london-unattached.com/uk-blogging-gdpr/

https://www.fromnicole.co.uk/blog/2018/5/26/stop-blaming-me-for-walking-away

https://croneconfidence.com/2018/05/24/the-best-contribution-you-could-ever-make/

https://www.happinessandfood.com/asphalt-and-a-leaf/

https://www.mostlyblogging.com/sites-like-stumbleupon-mix/

https://www.mecfsselfhelpguru.com/2018/05/me-cfs-flamenco-dancing-and-adaptation.html

https://www.graphic-organic.com/single-post/2017/12/18/Why-Traditional-Mail-Is-So-Important-In-The-Chronic-Illness-Community

IMG_3701
A card through the post made my day!

Please comment, like and share – make someone’s day!

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

It has been a momentous week with a royal wedding that broke the mould, the British weather behaving itself, a couple of little football matches (Blue supporters in my house very happy….well royal blue fans anyway) and the Bloggers’ Bash and Annual Bloggers’ Bash awards.  Well our golden invite was lost in the post, but tickets were already booked for the Bash so we would have politely declined anyway – who would have turned down the opportunity to meet good friends in person?  So hubby and I set off for Chiswick, with the dulcet tones of Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 keeping us updated on the beautiful day unfolding in Windsor.

Monday Magic (21 May)

We arrived to be met by those giants amongst bloggers Shelley and Hugh …. at the George IV pub and then the game of spot the blogger began in earnest.  Hubby was completely out of his depth, having only ever glanced over this blog, so to be surrounded by so many other bloggy people left him reeling!  But with the wonderful Geoff, resembling a curious reverse version Papa Smurf with his blue beard, and his partner in crime, Graeme overseeing the smooth running of the day we were in for a treat!  Bloggers’ Bash Queen Sacha took to the stage to welcome us and introduced the whole committee: Shelley, Hugh, Geoff, Graeme, the beautiful Suzie Speaks, elegant Helen and last, but by no means least, Adam.   Thank you to the whole committee for a fantastic event and your hard work this year!

I was delighted to meet my heroine Ritu – she also had a non blogging hubby with her, so we left them talking football, curry and kids – along with old online friends and new blogger pals.  The day flew by with laughter, food, drink, sunshine and more laughter.  There were even a few awards given out!!!  The diversity and talent of all the nominees is wonderful to see (and read!) – and the number of people who took the time to vote is testimony to the fantastic movement that Sacha and her team have built up.

So without further ado, and as I am much later with this than normal, the blogs for this week have to be the Award winners!

Best Overall Blogger:  Linda’s Book Bag

Funniest Blogger: The Tattooed Book Geek

Most Inspirational Blogger:  Ali – the Dragon Slayer

Most Informative Blogger:  Jennifer Gilmour

Best Book Review Blog:  JoandIsalovebooks

Services to Bloggers:  Compulsive Readers

Hidden Gem: The Quiet Knitter

Newcomer Blogger: The Beardy Book Blogger

Best Pal: Being Anne

So check out some fantastic blogs and for a full list of the winners and runners up go HERE!

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

Happy Monday, Pain Pals, and a belated Happy Mother’s Day to all in the USA.  I have just had a really busy weekend – that I plan to write about this week -and am struggling to sit upright today, so I’m not writing my normal preamble about life in the PainPals household. I’m not sure how much sense you would get out of me….

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 14 may

 

So I will launch straight into the blogs that I have found for you….there is a wonderful life lessons post from 100 year olds, a letter to the person feeling suicidal, a letter from a mother to the child she carried but never met for Mother’s day and a practical post about moving your blog to wordpress.com.  I really need to sort this out myself!!  Finally I could not let the opportunity go by to slip another a zebra post for May – this book review is fantastic and I could not do better myself for the book that has become our family bible (no offence intended to anyone).

So sit back (I have a cuppa and slice of my Dad’s gluten free coffee birthday cake – made by mum!), relax and enjoy some fantastic bloggers’ writing.

https://www.mymeenalife.com/signs-need-new-rheumatologist/

https://writedownthemidddle.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/pointing-to-myself.html

https://illness-to-wellness.com/2018/05/10/whylive/

https://thepurplealmond.com/2017/03/02/life-lessons-from-100-plus-year-olds/

https://weeklydoseofsue.com/2018/05/13/gob-stopping-comebacks-for-nitwits/

https://awriteradolescentmuse.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/monday-memoir-unforgettable/

https://en.blog.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/transfer-your-existing-domain-to-wordpress-com/

https://thisgirlsgotcurves.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/pathology/

https://wordsthroughthedarkness.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/mothers-day-2018/

https://scienceoveracuppa.com/2018/02/11/book-review-understanding-hypermobile-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-and-hypermobility-spectrum-disorder/

IMG_3262

Please share these posts and leave some comments or likes – make a blogger very happy!

I look forward to writing you some more when the brain and body start to function…in sync!

Have a great week, Claire

 

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

A bit late in the day, but I hope those of you in the UK are having a fantastic bank holiday weekend and enjoying this wonderful weather.  I managed my scheduling for Chronic Illness Bloggers this morning, and then the heat got the better of my POTS – that is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome – and bahm, over I went.  The shoulder was already dislocated so that wasn’t a problem, but the student engineer didn’t manage to engineer the wheelchair sufficiently under me and I slid straight onto the floor.  My lovely old dog, who always knows when I’m not quite right but hasn’t got the true makings of a helper dog due to his own autistic traits, did his bit to bring me round – dog breath probably rivals the smelling salts of Victorian ladies any day!

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 7th May

But all is well and this zebra managed a trip to our local park in the sunshine this afternoon….even walking some of the way!  Dogs walkers were out in force, alongside families and lots of smiles.  One of the nicest groups we saw was an antenatal/NCT type – easy to spot from the cluster of very self conscious new dads standing up and holding tiny new babies and the mums sitting on the grass with enormous bags under their eyes, but equally enormous smiles.  There were several young men looking like they were handling rugby balls, with a look of mild panic mingling with joy – the “help, what am I supposed to do with this little pink squirming human?”.  Funny how a home has to be vetted to have a new puppy, yet a new baby doesn’t come with a manual….and neither does a teen or a twenty something!

Zebra park
One zebra, with supplies, ready and raring to go

Exams are under way – the student engineer is nearly no longer requiring the “student” moniker and is about to sit his second “final” exam.  GCSEs are starting in earnest for the lovely girl, having had the obligatory “muck up day” last week involving hundreds of rubber duck, balloons and the odd water melon. Don’t ask!

This week there are some old friends back on my blog list, plus some bloggers who are completely new to me – like Erin at QuintessentiallyMe and Carrie Anne Lightley.  There are some delicious looking brownies, some mindset tips and some flash fiction.  So sit back, with a glass of something tasty and enjoy!

IMG_3979
Hubby and a few zebra accessories for EDS Awareness Month!!

https://www.carrieannlightley.com/single-post/Barcelona-by-Wheelchair

https://strengthandsunshine.com/easy-thick-fudgy-one-bowl-gluten-free-vegan-brownies-allergy-free/

http://www.beecontentyoga.com/vacation-mindset-every-day/

https://painresource.com/depression/10-worst-foods-for-depression-and-anxiety/

https://quintessentiallymeblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/dont-cling-onto-high-school/

https://roughwighting.net/2018/05/04/between-the-lines/

https://awriteradolescentmuse.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/story-sunday-the-moments-before/

http://givingcharlie.com/motivational-monday-dealing-with-life-ups-and-downs/

http://www.gardeninglove.co.uk/mood-lifting-activities/

https://natashatungare.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/life-is-too-short/

Please like, comment and share posts that you enjoy.

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

The last day of April and the showers are having a laugh as they are more like downpours.  Hubby has gone into the abyss this morning – or rather the Year 5 activity week in Kent where he has mud, zip wires, mud, archery, more mud, climbing, yet more mud and fun!  All with approximately 60 nine and ten year olds…eeekkkk!  There will even be a disco one night, so I hope he remembered to pack his sparkles.

MM 30th April

 

The main event of the week in our house has been the student engineer turning 22, although at times I wonder if it was 5.  His mood swings are off the scale at the moment and the lovely girl and I are counting down the days until his final exams are over – he is always a complete nightmare to live with during exam season!  But I don’t know where the time has gone but my little boy has grown into a young man about to enter the work force (hopefully with a top notch degree in Electronic Engineering) and a world where he speaks a different language to his parents (tech!!).

The lovely girl took her final art exam and passed with full marks.  Her work will have to be moderated, but unless the moderator looks at it with completely different ideas to her art teachers, she will have an A*.  She is so modest that she will hate me for even writing about it – I wish I could say she inherits her talent from her mother, but I’d be lying.  No, not from her father either before you ask!

 

Yours truly  has been fitting in a couple of book reviews and a trip to see the wonderful film Journey’s End around an ongoing migraine – you know the type that you think has gone and than a flicker of sunlight and bam, there it is again.  Several days on now and it has gone, but my head is still stuffed full of cottonwool and my tongue has been secretly pumped with fillers!  The film, adapted from the play by R.C.Sheriff an old boy of my school, is something that I would like to review as a separate piece for you, so watch this space!

Finally, May is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Awareness month so I give you fair warning now that there will be a constant supply of zebra stripes on this blog.  Meanwhile I hope that you will find my selection of posts this week both enjoyable and useful.  There are pieces about tick bites and Lyme disease,  how to relax doing art, and getting a dog.  For ladies of a certain age Tasheenga brings us “That Bitch Big M” – seriously funny!!  There are also a couple of very inspirational posts from within the wonderful spoonie community!

So grab a coffee, turn off your phone and sit back to enjoy some great blog posts.

http://supermomhacks.com/stuff-i-love/protect-your-kids-from-tick-bites/

http://www.youcanalwaysstartnow.com/2018/04/23/painting-dot-mandalas/

https://tasheengawriteshere.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/that-bitch-big-m/

https://mydailyjournalonline.com/theres-lot-thankful-world/

https://www.unboundroots.com/earth-day-lesson/

https://imsickandsoareyou.com/2018/04/29/when-a-cat-person-gets-a-dog/

https://pseudomonaz.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/to-be-continued/

https://mashaellman.com/2018/04/27/take-time-to/

https://www.sicklessons.com/depressive-sleep-gift/

https://www.ajourneythroughthefog.co.uk/2018/04/be-proud-of-every-step-you-take/

As ever please share some love for these bloggers on your social media sites.

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

It is time to share some more blog posts with you after a beautiful weekend here in the SE of the UK.  Hubby would probably moan as of course with a little bit of sunshine the garden begins to grow and he has had to mow the lawn…again!! The younger members of the PainPals house have been enjoying the sun and the Queen’s 92nd birthday in different ways.

Pin for later

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 23 April

The student engineer is edging closer and closer to the finishing line of his course, and one major piece to complete is the final year group project.  From the cursing coming from his room, I think that I can safely say that the quadcopter they have been re programming has not performed or given them the data that they hoped for.  Whilst our student engineer is happy to write up a detailed report (how detailed – remember his middle name is lastminute.com!) explaining why the flying machine failed to perform, the other student engineers keep appearing on our doorstep from London wanting to try something new.  He is not impressed – but the beautiful park that is on our doorstep played host to these young engineers playing in the sun on Saturday – time that could have been spent revising for final exams, I am told!!

The politics student disappeared up to London on Friday and told me he was off to Hyde Park.  Naive mum here didn’t realise that there was a big gathering including lots of students in Hyde Park called 420 Day – Support for Cannabis  – “but you talk about use of medical marijuana for chronic pain & MS, Mum!!”.  I am told that his friends were playing football and sunbathing, and that “there were loads of people and no trouble”. He has returned to uni today with a slightly pinker neck and lots of reminders about what might happen if he mixes his migraine and anxiety drugs with other substances, including alcohol!!

Finally the lovely girl is busy preparing for her art exam tomorrow – panic has set in over the weekend and she is working on her final sketchbook, the glue gun is working in overdrive and various household items are being smashed to add to her final piece!  A trip to the local part also helped with some more photographs to add to the Fragments theme, which she is has interpreted as mould and decay…..hmmm, attractive.  Actually the trial pieces she has prepared look pretty good….but I will be happy to get my lounge back!

Yours truly actually managed a night out, having had a light induced migraine since Friday.  I went with my mum to see the wonderful “Remembering Fred” starring Jeanette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.  Lovely night which I will write about again – but I actually felt like me!  I put on clothes that due to drug induced weight gain I hadn’t worn for a while, I put on some slap, looked in the mirror…and there I was! The person that I remember, not the pasty worn out trout I have become used to seeing.  Eldest son commented after I had used the lovely girl’s concealer under my eyes that I did look different – “I’m used to seeing you look really tired!” – not you look nice, Mum!  But with a bit of concealer and a slash of red lippie, you would never have known just how anaemic I am or that the weight loss probably hasn’t been for particularly healthy reasons (gastroparesis & gut problems).

IMG_3740
Girls’ Night Out!

On to the matter in hand and sharing some fab blog posts that I have read this week.  From a yoga class with a resilience theme to a beautiful poem to some useful blogging lessons, there is a huge variety.  I must issue a mascara warning with both Sheryl from A Chronic Voice’s post and Brutal Honesty Blogger’s post about remembering family.  Time to make that cuppa, put the phone on silent, sit back and enjoy!

https://clockworkclouds.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/appreciating-uncertainty/

https://bysarahwhiley.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/nothin-but-tracks/

http://www.healthyeatingexperts.com/i-tried-a-3-day-detox-for-the-first-time-heres-what-happened/

https://kellyontherun.com/2018/04/20/helpful-hints-for-the-newly-diagnosed/

https://www.chronicmom.com/2018/04/people-in-pain-want-alternatives-to-opioids.html/

https://www.beecontentyoga.com/february-class-theme-resilience/

https://whoamumma.com.au/2018/04/19/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-chronic-pain-sufferer/

https://www.achronicvoice.com/2018/04/15/death-broken-heart/

https://blondewritemore.com/2018/04/22/what-my-blogging-break-taught-me-sundayblogshare-bloggers-blogs/

https://brutalhonestyblogger.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/remembering-family-23-4-18/

Please share posts, leave comments and show some appreciation for great bloggers!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

I can’t believe that  another week has gone by and it is time for Monday magic again!  Have you finished your Easter chocolates yet?  There hasn’t been much eating for me this past week with 3 days of clear fluids and yet more bowel prep for a hospital investigation….third time lucky, hurray and thank god!!!  I had already decided that if my body hadn’t played ball this time, my mind was going to tell the doctors where the scope could be shoved…..Anyway this is a story for another spoonie post!!

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! (1)

I wrote a poem about my brain fog last week and it has played a long visit alongside its brother fatigue this weekend.  My balance has been seriously off kilter and as I went over backwards in the bathroom this morning, the lovely girl couldn’t stop laughing “You look like you’re doing the limbo Mum!”. She did catch me though, ha, ha, ha.  I have been reading a couple of your blogs about journals and bullet points – and decided I must start actually doing this.  Whilst I am up to date with my reading, writing my book reviews has been a bit more of a challenge and my dodgy mind has got the dates completely muddled.  Apologies authors – there will be reviews for everything I have promised.

books-book-pages-read-literature-159866.jpeg

I’m not the only one in need of a journal plan….the lovely girl has devised a lovely revision plan but now she has to get down to actually doing the work, so far so good!  I don’t think the same can be said for her big brothers!!  Have I mentioned before that she is allowed to use a laptop to help with the hand and wrist pain from her Ehlers Danlos Syndrome? Hubby and I took a massive step last week when we allowed her to go a concert to see Declan Mckenna in North London with friends – and they made their own way home.  Conditions were put in place….”text when you leave” “call when you get to the overhead train” “let us know when you’re back”….if anything goes wrong, if the concert over runs, etc etc both your brothers are in London…..We sat here with hubby watching Twitter for the times of the support act finishing, when would young Declan go on stage…and we knew that the venue has an 11pm curfew.

Declan-McKenna-050418-Forum-Emma-Swann-5897-web
Image by Emma Swann on DIY Mag

Of course the girls were fine – she couldn’t text when they got out as they had to rush to get across London for the last train.  But as parents our hearts were in our mouths whilst we had to let go of our baby…..guess what the most surprising thing was?  Both her big brothers called home to check if we had heard from her….the student engineer at half past midnight!  They do care really….

But back to some blogs for you to check out this week….I couldn’t resist sharing one about Hotter shoes teaming up with Marie Curie cancer care & daffodils (as a MC nurse in a previous life!), and I have sent out for supplies for the no bake energy balls recipes.  For some really inspiring stories please read Debs World (her beautiful writing made me cry) and also the book review by Jazmin – Chessy Prout is a remarkable young lady who spoke out about her rape by a fellow pupil at school, the response of others about her and her strength of character.  I have also added a couple of extra posts today as I sit watching the Commonwealth Games.  These young ladies are both swimmers and have both won gold medals at these games, overcoming  huge personal obstacles on the way.  I have written about Siobhan Marie O’Connor here in the past and Sophie Pascoe is a great ambassador for parasports.

In case you mixed it – voting is now open for the Bloggers Bash Awards  so don’t forget to vote for your favourites.

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy!

https://www.vanityandmestyle.com/2018/04/hotter-shoes-supporting-marie-curie.html

http://allthatjazmin.com/reviews/chessy-prout-book-review/

https://debs-world.com/2018/04/08/what-ive-learnt-from-surviving-a-school-trip-that-went-terribly-wrong/

https://easymommylife.com/no-bake-energy-balls-recipes/

https://mummyhereandthere.co.uk/2018/03/30/why-you-should-try-counselling/

https://www.graphic-organic.com/single-post/2017/10/10/World-Mental-Health-Day

https://helensjourneysite.wordpress.com/2018/04/07/time-rest-breath/

https://livingwithme.blog/2018/04/02/studying-in-the-spring/

https://mymedmusings.com/2018/04/08/im-good-my-body-not-so-much/

https://shannondianax.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/mental-health-and-hospitals-and-lifesaving-heart-surgery-and-british-heart-foundation-all-in-one-week-3/

http://www.thesportfeed.com/siobhan-marie-oconnor-swimming-with-ulcerative-colitis-nicola-kenton/

https://offthetracks.co.nz/sophie-pascoe-stroke-of-fate/

Please share these posts and show these great bloggers some love!

Have a great week,

Claire x